Thursday, 24 Nov 2022

Written Answers Nos. 256-264

Departmental Staff

Ceisteanna (256)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

256. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of community officers in her Department by county. [58600/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The following table details the number of Community Welfare Officers (CWOs) by county:

County	Number of CWOs
Carlow	3
Cavan	3
Clare	9
Cork	40
Donegal	11
Dublin	80
Galway	17
Kerry	16
Kildare	11
Kilkenny	5
Laois	6
Leitrim	4
Limerick	20
Longford	4
Louth	10
Mayo	12
Meath	5
Monaghan	3
Offaly	5
Roscommon	4
Sligo	4
Tipperary	15
Waterford	11
Westmeath	7
Wexford	6
Wicklow	7
Grand Total	318

The number of CWOs equates to just over 296 Full-time equivalents. Work is underway to fill any current CWO vacancies arising from retirement and mobility to other Government Departments as quickly as possible.

In addition to the number of CWOs listed above, 30 Social Welfare Inspectors have been temporarily reassigned to the Community Welfare Service until February 2023 to assist with claims processing.

Furthermore, having received an increased staffing allocation during the estimates process, recruitment has commenced in the Department for additional staff to be assigned to the Community Welfare Service. It is anticipated that all staff will be in place by February 2023.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Ceisteanna (257)

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

257. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a schedule of financial supports available to health care workers who suffer from long Covid following being infected with the virus in the course of their duties. [58604/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

My Department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability. It’s important to note that entitlement to these supports is generally not contingent on the nature of the illness or disability but on the extent to which it impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work.

Illness Benefit is the primary income support payment for people who are unable to attend work due to illness of any type. Additional payments may also be made in respect of a qualified adult and qualifying children. It is payable for up to two years, based on the person’s continued eligibility. If the person continues to be ill beyond two years, they may be eligible to apply for the long-term illness and disability payments provided by this Department.

Invalidity Pension is a weekly pension to people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or disability. It is based on a claimant's social insurance contributions and medical condition and is not means tested.

Disability Allowance is a means-tested weekly payment for people with a specified disability who are aged between 16 and 66. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, a means test, and a habitual residency test.

My department may also provide an Additional Needs Payment under our Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme to help meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. This includes exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from a person’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary.

The payment is available to anyone who needs it and qualifies, whether the person is currently on a social welfare payment or in employment. The payment amount will depend on a person’s weekly household income, their outgoings and the type of assistance needed. Payments are made at the discretion of the Community Welfare Officers administering the scheme, considering all the circumstances of the case.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits

Ceisteanna (258)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

258. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for a carer’s allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58620/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.

An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 10 November 2022.

Additional information in relation to the person’s application was requested by a Deciding Officer (DO) on 18 November 2022.

Once the requested information is received, the application will be processed without delay and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits

Ceisteanna (259)

Gary Gannon

Ceist:

259. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that those with disabilities partaking in the National Learning Network are being excluded from receiving the disability allowance. [58622/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

People on training courses, having previously been in receipt of a Disability Allowance payment, will receive the €500 Disability Support Grant.

My Department has, as you will be aware, acted very quickly to deliver the Disability Support Grant and other budget measures within an exceptionally short timeframe. Wherever possible, budget measures that are usually implemented in the January to March period of the year following a budget announcement, have been brought forward and implemented within a period of weeks. While this early issue of payments was very challenging it was possible to achieve for people paid directly off the Department’s own payment systems.

However, when undertaking training courses, recipients of Disability Allowance move off the Department’s payment systems and transfer to a Department of Further, Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science funded Training Allowance. As a consequence, it was not possible to process early payment of the Disability Support Grant to these recipients in the same manner as was implemented in respect of people paid directly through the Department’s own systems.

My officials are examining this issue in conjunction with their colleagues in the Department of Further, Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to ensure the payment is made to those who are on Training courses as soon as possible.

State Pensions

Ceisteanna (260)

Michael Ring

Ceist:

260. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection when an application for a State pension (contributory) was received in her Department for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; if she will provide the updated position regarding this application; when a decision will issue on this application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58628/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

Under social welfare legislation, a self-employed contributor is regarded as satisfying the contribution conditions for State pension (contributory) where the person has paid self-employment contributions in respect of at least one contribution year prior to reaching pension age (currently 66 years), and all self-employment contributions payable are considered to have been paid.

Where outstanding self-employment contributions are paid subsequent to an applicant’s reaching pension age, State pension (contributory) will be awarded from the date on which self-employment liability is deemed as discharged.

The person concerned reached pension age on 6 September 2022. The State Pension (contributory) was awarded at the weekly rate of €248.30 plus an Increase for a Qualified Adult allowance of €160.60 from 16 September 2022, the date the self-employment liability was deemed as discharged. The person concerned was notified in writing on 23 November 2022.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Appeals

Ceisteanna (261)

Michael Ring

Ceist:

261. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection when an appeal will be dealt with for a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58630/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 20 July 2022. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. Those papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 12 September 2022 and the case was referred on 28 September 2022 to an Appeals Officer. The Appeals Office has advised that the Appeals Officer's decision will be issued to the person concerned in the near future.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits

Ceisteanna (262)

James Lawless

Ceist:

262. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on a matter (details supplied) in relation to the repayment of a debt; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58631/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

As this query was submitted by the customer's spouse, the Department is not in a position to respond. The Department is happy to respond to a query directly from the customer about this matter.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Payments

Ceisteanna (263)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

263. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which a person (details supplied) has received their appropriate entitlements in respect of social welfare payments in recent times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58686/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

According to the records of my Department, the person concerned is in receipt of a basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) at a personal rate of €206 per week.I trust this clarifies the matter.

Gender Equality

Ceisteanna (264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271, 274, 275, 276, 277)

Réada Cronin

Ceist:

264. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the centralised website and portal includes overall breakdowns and averages of the gender pay gap across all of those required to report (>250 employees); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58524/22]

Réada Cronin

Ceist:

265. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the centralised website and portal includes breakdowns and averages of the gender pay gap for those required to report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58525/22]

Réada Cronin

Ceist:

266. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the centralised website provides a summary list by employer of the size of the gender pay gap by each of the different measures on which businesses are required to report, and to make it easy to track those who are above and below the average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58526/22]

Réada Cronin

Ceist:

267. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the centralised website provides a summary of the size of the gender pay gap over time by employer to capture whether there is any change over time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58527/22]

Réada Cronin

Ceist:

268. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the resources that will be provided by the Government to develop the reporting website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58528/22]

Réada Cronin

Ceist:

269. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if compliance with the Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 will be monitored; if compliance will be monitored by his Department or by the establishment of a separate body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58529/22]

Réada Cronin

Ceist:

270. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department has a complete list of all businesses required to report their gender pay gap to enable it to best track compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58530/22]

Réada Cronin

Ceist:

271. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a register of employers that have not complied with the requirements to publish their gender pay gap will be available to the public on the centralised website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58531/22]

Ivana Bacik

Ceist:

274. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the centralised portal for gender pay gap information will include overall breakdowns and averages of the gender pay gap across companies required to report; by sector, occupation and income decile. [58640/22]

Ivana Bacik

Ceist:

275. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the centralised gender pay gap information website will provide a summary list by employer of the size of the gender pay gap by each of the different measures on which businesses are required to report; and if it will provide a means to track those that are above and below the national average. [58641/22]

Ivana Bacik

Ceist:

276. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the centralised gender pay gap information website will provide a summary of the size of the gender pay gap over time by employer to capture the change, if any, that takes place. [58642/22]

Ivana Bacik

Ceist:

277. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount of funding dedicated to developing the gender pay gap information reporting website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58643/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I propose to take Questions Nos. 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271, 274, 275, 276 and 277 together.

Regulations have been made under the Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 which enable reporting in 2022. The Regulations require organisations with over 250 employees to report on their gender pay gap in 2022. Employers were required to choose a ‘snapshot’ date in June 2022 and to base their reporting on the employees they have on that date. Employers have six months from that date to make the relevant calculations and prepare their report, which should be published on the equivalent date in December 2022. The Regulations also require employers to publish a statement setting out, in the employers’ opinion, the reasons for the gender pay gap in their company and what measures are being taken or proposed to be taken by the employer to eliminate or reduce that pay gap.

Employers will be required to publish their report and statement in a manner easily accessible to the public, such as on their website.

Measures concerning enforcement of reporting obligations by relevant employers are provided for in Section 3 of the Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021, which inserted new sections 85B and 85C in the Employment Equality Act 1998. Section 85B enables the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, IHREC, to apply to the Circuit Court or the High Court for an order requiring a person to comply with the regulations. A person who fails to comply with a Court order is in contempt of that Court. Section 85C allows for an employee to make a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, of non-compliance with reporting regulations by their employer. The Director General of the WRC or an adjudication officer, to whom one would expect this function will be delegated, will investigate the complaint if satisfied that there is a prima facie case. If, on investigation, the officer finds in favour of the complainant, he or she may make an order requiring the employer to take a specified course of action in order to comply. Enforcement of WRC orders is through the District Court.

The Department does not maintain a list of individual employers required to report and does not have a role under the legislation in enforcing compliance.

Future regulations made under the Act may provide for a central website on to which employers will be required to upload their information. Such a system is not in place for the 2022 reporting cycle.

Plans are in place to develop an online reporting system for future reporting cycles. The specification of this system is at an early stage of development. It is envisaged that it would provide for the publication of employers' reports as specified in the Regulations, and reports for previous years as specified in the Regulations. The necessary costs will be assessed in the development of any tender.

Aggregate statistics for employers reporting gender pay gap information will not be produced on this system. Statistical information on the gender pay gap in Ireland is published by Eurostat from data provided periodically by the Central Statistics Office and available disaggregated by sector (NACE Rev.1.1 and Rev.2 activity), age class, public or private ownership of organisation, and fulltime or part-time working.